“What Shall I Do That I May Inherit Eternal Life?” NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17: Mark 10, 12, Luke 12, 14, 16 Lesson Purpose: Help class understand that we must be willing to sacrifice things of this world to obtain a place in the kingdom of heaven.

1. “What Shall I Do That I May
Inherit Eternal Life?”
NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17: Mark 10, 12, Luke
12, 14, 16

2. Little Miss Violet
Vi's sucker obsession
Getting stuck in my office bin because
she won’t let go of the ring pop
Countless Hollywood treasure hunting
movies have this same ending…the
bad guy clutching his riches as the
cave crumbles around him
Lesson Purpose: Help class understand
that we must be willing to sacrifice things
of this world to obtain a place in the
kingdom of heaven.

3. Brigham Young
"The worst fear that I have about this
people is that they will get rich in this
country, forget God and His people,
wax fat, and kick themselves out of
the Church and go to hell. This
people will stand mobbing, robbing,
poverty, and all manner of
persecution, and be true. But my
greater fear for them is that they
cannot stand wealth; and yet they
have to be tried with riches, for they
will become the richest people on this
earth."

4. Trusting in riches can keep a
person out of the kingdom of God

5. Jesus Teaches the Rich Young
Man
Mark 10:17-20
What do we know about this young man?
17: How did he approach? With eagerness and humility
17: What is his righteous goal?
20: He’s obedient
Mark 10:21
What Christ’s motivation? Love
ATOT: Volleyball, making Liz serve overhand in games. Why do I want her to
struggle? It will make her practice
“One thing”: he was so close…what was he missing?

6. Jesus Teaches the Rich Young
Man
Mark 10:22-24
22: Why is he sad? If he discounted Christ’s teaching he wouldn’t have been sad - he would
have been angry like the Pharisees
23: They can still enter - it’s just harder. New doctrine to the Jews; prosperity was a sign of
righteousness.
Joseph F. Smith: “God is not a respecter of persons. The rich man may enter into the
kingdom of heaven as freely as the poor, if he will bring his heart and affections into
subjection to the law of God and to the principle of truth; if he will place his affections upon
God, his heart upon the truth, and his soul upon the accomplishment of God’s purposes, and
not fix his affections and his hopes upon the things of the world” (Gospel Doctrine, 260–61)
24: What does it mean to ‘trust in riches’?
So, if we’re not wealthy, are we off the hook?
What are our ‘riches’? C.S. Lewis Quote (next slide)

7. C.S. Lewis on “riches”
"Christ said it was difficult for 'the rich' to enter the Kingdom
of Heaven, referring, no doubt, to 'riches' in the ordinary
sense. But I think it really covers riches in every sense--
good fortune, health, popularity, and all the things one
wants to have. All these things tend--just as money tends--
to make you feel independent of God, because if you have
them you are happy already and contented in this life. You
don't want to turn away to anything more, and so you try to
rest in a shadowy happiness as if it could last for ever. But
God wants to give you a real and eternal
happiness. Consequently He may have to take all these
'riches' away from you: if he doesn't, you will go on relying
on them. It sounds cruel, doesn't it? But I am beginning to
find out that what people call the cruel doctrines are really
the kindest ones in the long run...If you think of this world
as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it
quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and
correction and it's not so bad" (C.S. Lewis, The C.S. Lewis
Bible, p. 1123).

8. Joseph Smith
"A religion that does not require
the sacrifice of all things never has
power sufficient to produce the
faith necessary unto life and
salvation.”
(Lectures on Faith, p58)
Why would we do this?
Mark 10:29-30
Contrast with the Widow’s Mite
(next slide)

10. The Widow’s Mite
Mark 12:41-42
Where was the money going? Why would he encourage this seemingly-
worthless sacrifice?
ATOT: Missionaries who teach but don’t baptize. It’s not about the end result.
Mark 12:43-44
How did she feel? Ashamed? Scared? Less than…?
ATOT: Listening to a laurel lesson Kansas. Everyone else was young and
fancy (with coordinating handouts and treats). She must have felt insecure
about her contribution. Her message was pure and resonant.
He values every mite, especially when we have few to give. When we feel we
are not enough, know that he sees us completely (he knew it was all she had)

11. Seek Heavenly Treasure

12. Seek not earthly treasures
Luke 12:13-15, Inheritance dispute
What is covetousness? Why is it dangerous?
ATOT: My Amazon Wish Lists. They make me feel insufficient -
constantly seeking more
Luke 12:16-19, Parable of rich man and his barn
What is the risk of ‘taking thine ease’?
Luke 12:20-21, What is the value of our stuff?
ATOT: Giving the coffee tables away, direct answer to a
prayer

13. Bruce R. McConkie
"In the eternal perspective there is
no such thing as sacrifice for the
gospel cause. Men may forsake
what seemingly is of great worldly
worth here, but they will be
rewarded with eternal riches
hereafter. They forsake friends,
families, and possessions for the
gospel's sake, but they gain these
same things again in far greater
measure in the mansions on high."
(DNTC, 1:557)

14. The Parable of the Great
Supper

15. Followers of Christ must be willing
to forsake all to be true disciples
Luke 14:15-17
Great preparations are made - the food glorious
Luke 14:18-20, they make excuses
Luke 14:21-24
None that were bidden shall taste. Why didn’t they come? They
weren’t hungry - they had filled their calendar with other priorities
Do we do that? How often do we skip the Temple’s feast
because we aren’t hungry enough? Will it be too late if we wait
until we are?

16. Melvin Hammond
"We often must make significant changes in our lives in order to attend
the feast at the table of the Lord. Too many of us put those changes off,
thinking there is no urgency. Perhaps this parable could be called the
“don’t bother me now, Lord” parable. We try to excuse ourselves in
various ways. Each rationalization comes from selfishness and almost
always relates to something temporal. For some it is the Word of
Wisdom. For others it is the law of tithing. Perhaps it is a reluctance to
live the law of chastity. Whatever the reason, we who reject or delay our
response to the Savior’s invitation show our lack of love for Him who is
our King" ("Parables of Jesus: The Great Supper," F. Melvin Hammond,
Ensign, April 2003).
Luke 14:26-27